Maona presents: Mapantsula15

Directed by Oliver Schmitz | South Africa | 1988 | 1h 43m | Zulu w/ English subtitles | Starring Thomas Mogotlane, Thembi Mtshali, Peter Sephuma, Marcel Van Heerden, Eugene Majola

A small-time hustler navigating the streets of Soweto finds himself entangled in anti-apartheid protests. When singled out by the local police, he faces a pivotal decision: prioritise personal gain or join the movement against racism. A quintessential example of guerrilla filmmaking, Oliver Schmitz’s 1988 cult-classic crime drama has finally emerged in stunning 4K resolution after years of suppression. Screenings marking the 30th anniversary of South African Freedom.

These screenings will be introduced by Dr Robert Freeman. Robert is a lecturer in English, and affiliate of New College, Oxford. He writes on African film, literary value, and the history of cultural institutions.

Reviews

‘The film starts as a racy gangster melodrama with an unusually pungent low-life city background, then builds inexorably to a moral reckoning, a ferocious, unforgettable denouement.’
Michael Wilmington, The LA Times

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Maona presents: Mapantsula between May 21, 2024 and May 22, 2024.

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What else is on?

Today (Wednesday 16th April)

15:00

La Cocina 15
2h 19m | Spanish w/ English subtitles
Amid the chaos of a Manhattan lunch rush, a series of crises threaten to bring a bustling restaurant kitchen to a halt. Alonso Ruizpalacios’s gripping drama offers a thrilling exploration of class struggles and the capitalist American dream.

Book here

18:00

Flow U
1h 25m
A fearless cat, joined by a capybara, lemur, bird, and dog, searches for dry land after a devastating flood. This Oscar-winning animated adventure is a breathtaking, heartwarming journey about survival, friendship, and the power of community.

Book here

20:00

Under the Skin 15
1h 48m
A mysterious woman roams the streets of Glasgow, seeking out solitary men and drawing them into an eerie, otherworldly trap. Oscar winner Jonathan Glazer (The Zone of Interest) presents a haunting exploration of an outsider’s perspective on an unfamiliar world.

Book here


Tomorrow (Thursday 17th April)

12:30

Flow U
Parent + Baby Screening
1h 25m
A fearless cat, joined by a capybara, lemur, bird, and dog, searches for dry land after a devastating flood. This Oscar-winning animated adventure is a breathtaking, heartwarming journey about survival, friendship, and the power of community.

Book here

16:00

Flow U
1h 25m
A fearless cat, joined by a capybara, lemur, bird, and dog, searches for dry land after a devastating flood. This Oscar-winning animated adventure is a breathtaking, heartwarming journey about survival, friendship, and the power of community.

Book here

18:00

Ernest Cole: Lost and Found 15
1h 46m
South African photographer Ernest Cole was the first to expose the realities of apartheid. Director Raoul Peck's (I Am Not Your Negro) powerful documentary reclaims Cole’s legacy and highlights a crucial chapter in the fight for human rights.

Book here

20:30

Santosh 15
2h 8m | Hindi w/ English subtitles
Under a government scheme, a widow inherits her late husband’s job as a police officer in the rural badlands of Northern India. This BAFTA-nominated crime thriller follows a female cop navigating moral dilemmas in a patriarchal system.

Book here


Plan your visit

Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road. We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We don’t show adverts, just a couple of trailers, so don't be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!